Jazz I regard as an American folk music; not the only one, but a very powerful one which is probably in the blood and feeling of the American people more than any other style of folk music.

True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time.

For suddenly, I saw you there And through foggy London town The sun was shining everywhere.

Out of my entire annual output of songs, perhaps two, or at the most three, came as a result of inspiration. We can never rely on inspiration. When we most want it, it does not come.

All these tales of people sitting down and composing symphonies just as though they were writing a letter are very much exaggerated; at least, it isn't that way in my work.

It sounds simple, of course, but personally I can think of no more mentally arduous task than making music.

Writing music is not so much inspiration as hard work.